Tag - Yuletide

Perhaps December would have turned out great if one unexpected inconvenience hadn’t marred the celebratory mood it heralds – the fuel scarcity menace. Everything hinged on the availability of this dark, flowing liquid. It was priority, and practically took over our lives and the impending Yuletide. Nevertheless, four books passed beneath my voracious gaze – Persuasion, How to spell Naija in a 100 short stories Vol. 2, Excuse me ! & Born a crime. My 9- 5 job hummed along uninspiringly. Not that I expected anything less; the signs have been there for quite a while. I even wrote and sent off the monthly report earlier than usual as requested by the boss. My exercise routine included three days of bicycle – riding once we went off for the holidays, and hurray I had material more than enough to post beyond the required monthly target of my blog. Goodbye 2017;I sure won’t miss you much.

For us, Christmas is usually spent at my mum’s in the ancient town I grew up in. My siblings and I congregate there from our various bases, with our offspring, every year. Not in 2016. My mum had been with me since October this year and was not intending on returning home any time soon; she had other plans. So we made alternative ones. The kind that involved clean, healthy air, loads of activities and a totally different environment. Christmas this year was spent at the seaside. Think waves crashing loudly to the shore as the sound you hear when you wake up. The red brick chalets – either lined up in a row or in hamlet- style clusters. Palm trees and their fronds swaying lazily to the cool, gentle breeze. Squirrels scurrying up and down, and in between the trees. Monkeys merely jumping from tree to tree before landing, sometimes, on our roof. Guinea fowls treading quietly, unobtrusively ( in search of food) in order not to alert the attention of the milling humans. But no, the children see them and squeal with delight, frightening off the poor creatures. Goats and their young ones bleating across the greenery as they share the space with us and our roving eyes and wandering limbs. An untethered horse’s sudden, short flight before it it captured and restrained. Little bamboo and cement structures dotting the landscape, interspersed with a pool here, a basketball court there, & a volleyball court over there. At the far end, in total contrast to the raging ocean, is a quietly flowing river. It is serene and tranquil, gently moving in one direction, flanked by thick and lush vegetation. Jungle, as T referred to it. The river is as inviting as it is isolated. Wooden canoes and kayaks introduce its attractions and this waterbody’stole in the resort’s beauty. This is where we all are – T and Chairman, my beau and I, my mum, one of my elder brother’s , Jnr, and his children – Nicole & Anastasia. Season’s greetings from the seaside.